How the sequel trilogy and legends material make Return of the Jedi’s biggest twist so much better

How the sequel trilogy and legends material make Return of the Jedi’s biggest twist so much better

When The Empire Strikes Back was released in 1980, it contained the biggest twist in all of film history: that Luke Skywalker's father was actually Darth Vader. So when it came time for the sequel three years later, Return of the Jedi faced an impossible task of matching it. And while no one would claim [...]

Daisy Ridley understands exactly what messages the Star Wars sequel trilogy was sending with Rey’s parents, and it’s refreshing to hear

Daisy Ridley understands exactly what messages the Star Wars sequel trilogy was sending with Rey’s parents, and it’s refreshing to hear

The discourse over Rey's parents in the Star Wars sequel trilogy has been a near-constant talking point online in the Star Wars fandom since The Force Awakens released in 2015, and it only escalated with the answers revealed in The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. There's no shortage of opinions out there on [...]

Warwick Davis drew inspiration from Mark Hamill’s performance in The Last Jedi for his return as Willow, and it shows

Warwick Davis drew inspiration from Mark Hamill’s performance in The Last Jedi for his return as Willow, and it shows

The first season of the Willow series on Disney+ has some not-so-subtle parallels to the Star Wars sequel trilogy, and it's better for it. The season begins with a new generation of characters getting started on a quest that begins with them searching for the legendary sorcerer, Willow Ufgood. Sounds a bit like The Force [...]

The Last Jedi turns 5: Rian Johnson would be sad if he never makes another Star Wars film

The Last Jedi turns 5: Rian Johnson would be sad if he never makes another Star Wars film

Five years ago, on December 15, 2017, the eighth chapter of the Star Wars Skywalker Saga was released, The Last Jedi, to a successful box office run and impressive critical acclaim. Three months before the film's release, in September, Lucasfilm made a director change for Episode IX, the sequel to The Last Jedi, and reportedly [...]

The Last Jedi turns 5: Why Holdo, Rose, and Canto Bight give Finn and Poe the character arcs they deserve

The Last Jedi turns 5: Why Holdo, Rose, and Canto Bight give Finn and Poe the character arcs they deserve

It was recently the fifth anniversary of The Last Jedi's release, and as such I've been writing several pieces reflecting on different aspects of the film. I wrote about why it's treatment of Luke Skywalker was so brilliant, then wrote about why Rose Tico's famous line is such a fitting summary of one of the [...]

The Last Jedi turns 5: Why Rose Tico’s best line is one of the best summaries for all of Star Wars, including Andor

The Last Jedi turns 5: Why Rose Tico’s best line is one of the best summaries for all of Star Wars, including Andor

At the end of The Last Jedi, Rose Tico does something rather rash: she crashes her speeder into Finn's, saving his life in the process. As he asks her why she did it, she utters these beautiful words: "That's how we're gonna win. Not fighting what we hate, saving what we love." This is an [...]

The Last Jedi turns 5: Why its treatment of Luke Skywalker is a beautiful portrayal of a heroic Jedi

The Last Jedi turns 5: Why its treatment of Luke Skywalker is a beautiful portrayal of a heroic Jedi

The treatment of Luke Skywalker in The Last Jedi has sparked no shortage of controversy. Some people hate the movie because of it. Others mostly like the movie, except for it. And then there are others, like me, who love the movie in large part because of it. I'm not intending here to re-litigate the [...]

An important reminder: actors are not always right about what should happen to their characters

An important reminder: actors are not always right about what should happen to their characters

John Boyega has once again been in the news recently for his comments about Star Wars, with him saying that he won't return to the franchise and that he can't read Colin Trevorrow's Episode IX script because it would break his heart. Boyega has not been shy about his opinions on how the sequel trilogy [...]

Rian Johnson still plans to make his Star Wars trilogy, and is prouder of The Last Jedi than ever

Rian Johnson still plans to make his Star Wars trilogy, and is prouder of The Last Jedi than ever

It's hard to believe that The Last Jedi came out five years ago. In the time since its release the film has sparked no shortage of conversation, but Lucasfilm made a definitive demonstration of their belief in the film and its director, Rian Johnson, by announcing a new trilogy from Johnson before the movie ever [...]

The narrative arcs of Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Last Jedi have plenty of similarities, and it’s Star Wars storytelling at its best

The narrative arcs of Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Last Jedi have plenty of similarities, and it’s Star Wars storytelling at its best

I think you can make a very compelling case that Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi are the two greatest Jedi we've ever seen. They have both been around since the very earliest days of Star Wars, and their legend has only continued to grow over time. They both have been central figures to stories that [...]